India news: West Bengal wakes to a new political reality
What you need to know
- India takes stock of wins and losses a day after high-stakes state election results
- Modi's BJP claims first-ever win in opposition stronghold West Bengal
- Modi says 'politics of good governance has triumphed'
- Three Indians injured in alleged Iranian attack on Fujairah, UAE
- India says targeting innocent civilians 'unacceptable'
Here's a roundup of the major headlines from India on Tuesday, May 5:
Skip next section Kolkata police cautions residents against fake news of election rigging, mass protests05/05/2026May 5, 2026Kolkata police cautions residents against fake news of election rigging, mass protests
Authorities in West Bengal's capital city of Kolkata cautioned residents against falling for fake news circulating online, a day after the central ruling Bharatiya Janata Part dislodged the local Trinamool Congress in polls.
BJP's electoral win has ended TMC's 15-year rule in the state.
"Several misleading posts are being circulated on social media by falsely linking unrelated videos and photos from other places to Kolkata after the election results," Kolkata Police said in a post on X.
"Strict legal action is being taken against those spreading misinformation and attempting to disturb public peace. The situation in Kolkata is fully under control. Citizens are requested not to believe or share unverified posts," it said.
Several posts suggesting mass protests, military intervention and election rigging circulated on social media and messaging platforms including X, Facebook and WhatsApp. Some shared weeks-old videos of clashes between BJP and TMC workers.
Results of BJP's win initially led to a jubilant atmospehere in Kolkata followed by a tense Tuesday morning amid fake news and speculation of violence.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DINLSkip next section West Bengal: TMC accuses BJP workers of post-poll violence05/05/2026May 5, 2026West Bengal: TMC accuses BJP workers of post-poll violence
West Bengal's outgoing Trinamool Congress (TMC) reported incidents of arson, vandalism, and violence on Monday evening as BJP workers celebrated a landslide victory in the eastern state.
Law enforcement officers said TMC's offices in several locations across Kolkata were vandalized by mobs, news agency PTI reported.
Video circulating on social media showed groups of men trashing furniture, tearing TMC flags, and breaking valuables in what seemed like local TMC party offices. DW could not independently verify those videos.
"The BJP has exposed its true face the moment it came to power," TMC's X handle said posting one such video.
In response to the complaints, an election commission official said strict action would be taken against those involved in the incidnts. The election-governing body sought reports from the local police and asked them to take action.
Post-election violence is not uncommon in the state but rarely seen in the capital city of Kolkata.
In a post on X showing an elderly lady bleeding from her head, TMC said: "This is BJP’s victory parade, drenched in the blood of innocent people."
BJP Leader Rahul Sinha denied the allegations, instead blaming rival factions within TMC.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DHo5Skip next section Will Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' leave Colombia for India?05/05/2026May 5, 2026Will Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' leave Colombia for India?
Can a sanctuary in India provide a new home for "cocaine hippos"? The hippos are descendants of animals imported in the 1980s by Colombia's best-known drug trafficker, Pablo Escobar, for his private zoo. Watch the full video:
Will Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' leave Colombia for India?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DHjVSkip next section FIFA faces broadcast crisis in India as Reliance offers $20 million, Reuters reports05/05/2026May 5, 2026
FIFA faces broadcast crisis in India as Reliance offers $20 million, Reuters reports
Millions of football fans in India may not be able to watch the much-awaited FIFA World Cup, which starts next month, as Reuters reported a deadlock over the tournament's broadcast rights.
The Reliance-Disney joint venture in India has offered $20 million for the 2026 World Cup broadcast rights. This was a fraction of FIFA's ask and unacceptable to the global soccer governing body, Reuters reported, citing two unnamed sources.
FIFA is yet to announce a deal for broadcasting the games in India and China. The latter accounted for 49.8% of all viewing hours on digital and social platforms during the last World Cup.
"Discussions in China and India regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.
For India, FIFA initially sought $100 million for broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, the sources told Reuters.
In 2022, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance secured the media rights for the World Cup for about $60 million, and the deal was announced about 14 months before the event in Qatar. "FIFA is looking for a similar amount for this edition of the tournament," a source within FIFA told Reuters.
Reliance and Disney have since formed a joint venture to emerge as a dominant force in India's streaming space.
World Cup protests, prices and politics in focus at FIFA
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DHjSSkip next section India condemns drone strike on UAE05/05/2026May 5, 2026India condemns drone strike on UAE
India on Tuesday condemned a drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, which also left three Indians injured.
"Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. "India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy," he wrote.
The UAE blamed Iran for the drone attack on Monday, but Iranian state TV said the Islamic Republic had "no pre-planned program" to attack oil facilities.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement Tuesday.
Jaiswal also called for "free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz," adding that India was ready to support all efforts towards a peaceful Resolution.
India's heavy dependence on imported goods, especially oil and gas, has significantly impacted everyday life in the world's most populous nation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war has not only led to a shortage in cooking gas but also impacted several industries facing shortages of raw materials.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DHdfSkip next section India state election results: What you need to know05/05/2026May 5, 2026India state election results: What you need to know
The counting of votes for the states of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry took place on Monday, May 4.
Here's what you need to know about the results:
West Bengal
- Narendra Modi's BJP won 206 out of 294 seats
- This is BJP's first ever win in the state
- Current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost in her own constituency
- Her loss is partly attributed to economic stagnation, deteriorating infrastructure and worsening safety of women during her time in office.
- First election after Modi-led controversial revision of electoral rolls which Banerjee said was done to manipulate elections
Tamil Nadu
- Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay emerges victorious in his first electoral contest
- Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won at least 108 of the 234 seats
- Incumbent DMK only won in 59 seats while BJP supported AIDMK won 47 seats
- Lack of absolute majority means Vijay will likely have to enter alliance to form a government
- In February, TVK had said it would not form alliance with BJP
Kerala
- India's largest national opposition Congress party scored a win in Kerala through a regional alliance
- Congress-led UDF won 102 of the 140 seats
- The Left alliance, currently in power, won only 35 seats
- This marks the end of Leftist rule in the state, a historical milestone
Assam
- The BJP-led NDA alliance gained a record victory
- NDA won 102 of the 126 seats, BJP itself won 82 seats
- This will be BJP's third straight term in the northeastern state
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will likely return to the state's top role
Puducherry
- BJP-led alliance set to return to power in the union territory
- NDA won 18 of the 30 seats
- BJP's tally down to four seats from the current six seats
West Bengal welcomes Modi, bids Mamata adieu
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party has swept to an electoral victory in a state long held by one of his biggest adversaries.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won at least 206 out of the 294 assembly seats, according to the Election Commission of India's Website. This marks the BJP's first-ever win in the eastern state.
The victory should put Modi on a stronger footing as he confronts a series of economic and foreign policy challenges, including high unemployment rates and a pending US trade deal, ahead of the general election in 2029.
"The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever," Modi, 75, said on social media. "People's power has prevailed and BJP's politics of good governance has triumphed."
"BJP's record win in West Bengal would not be possible without the efforts and struggles of countless Karyakartas (workers) over generations," he added.
Thousands of BJP party workers, supporters and local residents turned out to celebrate in Kolkata late on Monday. They waved party flags, danced atop their cars and swayed to music, blocking several key areas of the city.
The result was the culmination of a long and aggressive election season that dislodged one of the most powerful political figures of the nation—Mamata Banerjee.
The 71-year-old Banerjee, visibly agitated after the results, accused the BJP and the Election Commission of manipulating the results. "BJP looted more than 100 seats," she said, surrounded by security personnel on Monday evening. Banerjee also lost in her own constituency, Bhawanipur.
Political analyst Sushila Ramaswamy said the BJP's victory in West Bengal would consolidate the party's hold over eastern India. "It's a tremendous victory," she said.
"It also shows the electoral machinery of the BJP, how effective and how much detailing goes into their election campaign. And it establishes the BJP as the dominant party in the country."
https://p.dw.com/p/5DHJZSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/05/2026May 5, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Mahima Kapoor | Roshni Majumdar EditorGood morning! Welcome to DW's India news blog.
This is Mahima Kapoor from DW's New Delhi bureau, bringing you everything you need to know from the country today.
India is still making sense of the results of the high-stake legislative elections in four states and one union territory. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party secured a sweeping win in the eastern state of West Bengal, as people voted for change and anti-incumbency against current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The mood in the state's capital city, Kolkata, is both jubilant and tense. Many residents were waking after a night of celebrating out on the streets. Others were carefully stepping out for their workday amid fear of clashes between workers of the two parties.
In Tamil Nadu, an actor has once again emerged as a people's politician. Joseph Vijay was victorious in his electoral debut but failed to win a majority, which means an alliance is now on the cards.
Moving away from national politics, three Indians were reportedly injured in a drone attack in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India's External Affairs Ministry has once again called for a suspension of hostilities in the Gulf.
Keeping reading as we break these events down for you here in this blog.
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